Deep down, Gemma Grainger and her squad know Wales have already achieved one of their most significant victories. More than 12,000 fans will be in attendance for their winner-takes-all match against Slovenia on Tuesday night (September 6), an affair which if won will see Wales Women relish a historic World Cup 2023 play-off berth and, if play-off permutations fall fortunately, a first-ever major tournament appearance in Australia and New Zealand next summer.
The potential is dizzying, not least in front of a record home crowd, one which will emphatically smash its previous iteration set just months ago. Back then, to reach 5,445 (eclipsing the 5,053 set at Rodney Parade against England in 2018) felt empowering. To reach more than 12,000 so effortlessly only months later is enough to make one feel invincible.
Such fanfare for the women’s game is a reality that, a few years ago, played out only in the furthest, most delirious corners of these players’ imaginations, and even these moments were rationed. Not out of some commitment to stoicism or hyper-focused professionalism, but because there is no use in expending mental energy over something that others are simply not prepared to acknowledge as even capable of existing in this current galaxy, let alone this country.
